strong men act in the
presence of some great disaster--calmly, soberly, rather white-faced and
silent, but unflinching and steadfast.

There was no amazement in Nopp's face. Evidently he had expected just
such a development.

"Another gone, eh?" he said. "I wish these devils would stay in their
rooms, where they belong. What's taking them out there, Killdare?"

"How do I know? Maybe they just can't sleep--want to walk----"

"They wouldn't want to walk in that part of the grounds, if they're
human, unless they've got business there. But no matter. We've got to
look around for him at least. I don't suppose it will do any good----"

He spoke with an unmistakable fatalism. "You don't mean--that he's gone
like the rest----"

I heard our low breathing as I waited for his answer. "What's the use of
fooling ourselves any more, Killdare?" he replied quietly. "We're up
against something--God knows what. Of course he's gone--just like the
rest. Where else could he be?"

We turned once more into his room. Wilkson had reported rightly--his bed
had not been slept in, and there was not the slightest sign of disorder.
His coat--a well-made garment of some gray, cotton cloth hung on the
back of his chair, and the butts of two cigars lay on his smoking stand.
He was not in his bathroom, nor did we hear his voice from some
adjoining room.

And now all the other guests, all of whom slept on this same floor, were
gathering about us, wakened by the sound of our voices. Marten came,
swearing under his breath, and Van Hope's brow was beaded with
perspiration that glistened in the dim light. But none of them knew
where Major Dell was. Indeed none of them had seen him since he had
gone to his room.

There was a curious, dream-like quality about the little session that we
had together at the door of Dell's room. It was all rather dim, obscure,
the voices that we heard seemed to come from some place far off, and
that ring of faces no longer looked clear-cut and sharp. I suppose the
answer lay in the great preoccupation that was upon us all, a struggle
for understanding that engulfed our minds.

There were no excited, frenzied voices. The men spoke rather quietly and
slowly, as if measuring their words, and Van Hope was smiling, faintly.
It wasn't a mirthful smile, but rather a wan smile such as a man gives
when some incredible disaster, long expected, has fallen upon him. None
of us liked to see it. There was nothing to believe but th